Pleasure (Mary Magdalene)

Digital Drawing · Femessence Series · Vulva Art for Radical Self Acceptance

A collective journey of radical self acceptance, worth and opportunity to receive adoration. My intention for this series of work is for increased embodiment and spiritual awareness. It’s an opportunity for women to see, appreciate, accept, and approve of themselves, and realise their power and ability to create — magic, life, relationships, art.

Whilst the subject matter has evoked reactions and conversations around culture, gender specific values, experiences and opinions, this is not intended to be political or gendered. More of a self appreciation and acknowledgement of the spiritual and creative power of the feminine essence. Hence — Femessence.

Acknowledging women’s sacred space and building a relationship with our bodies is a process which can bring you back into alignment and understanding. Simply, I believe we are created to create. By acknowledging our creative centres and power as females, this is a step towards creating the life we desire.

The artwork created is not mine — it’s the beauty of others represented on paper. It was a co-creation and I thank and appreciate every one of the participants in this series for their grace, beauty, vulnerability and bravery.

As an arts therapist it’s not about the end piece entirely — it’s about the process of making the art and the beauty of the journey behind the piece. From the photography, to the conversations, to the displaying of the final pieces and emotions that occur, and the gifts that are exchanged after the work is complete. It’s a forever evolving experience — the start of a new intersubjective relationship.

Thank you to all for joining the experience and being a part of the creative process.

Card 11 · Femessence Series · 2021

Pleasure

Age 30 · Caucasian background · Vaginal birth: No

She came to this already in love with her body — someone who had done the years of work, who jumped at any chance to celebrate herself. She didn’t arrive here from shame. She arrived from devotion. What she didn’t expect was the depth of what she found. She thought she knew her vulva. And then she saw what Caris had drawn, and something opened further than she knew was possible.

“It allowed me to fall in love with her on a whole other level.”

I loved the process of capturing my vulva and sending it to Caris. Having done the work to fall in love with my vulva over the years, I jump at any chance to celebrate her. But I didn’t expect to be so mesmerised and amazed at how Caris managed to capture her.

It allowed me to fall in love with her on a whole other level and I am so happy and grateful I was able to experience this process. This is such a portal to embracing and celebrating female bodies — it’s so needed.

Yes, I feel even closer and more connected to her.

To her teenage self

Our bodies are all different and all beautiful. There is nothing to be ashamed about — create as deep a relationship with your body as possible.

Pleasure is not a destination. This portrait is proof of that — it is a door that keeps opening.

This portrait is part of the Femessence Women’s Celebration Series — a body of work by artist and arts therapist Caris Pepper honouring the sacred feminine through vulva portrait art. Each portrait in this series is becoming a card in the Femessence Vulva Portrait Oracle deck, coming 2027.

Seek (Sapphire)

Depths (Mystery)